The event hit social media and has evoked outrage that this
could happen – and expressions of support for our community and anger at those
who did this. What it represents for
others is important for humanizing our national discourse. But I hope that the story that breaks through
ultimately will be the one I experienced:
the depth and clarity of the love that binds us as a community of
faith, carrying and grounding our response
to this event and affirming of love as stronger than hatred and fear. The coverage on WAMU, which included an interview with me next to the desecrated Memorial Garden Wall, makes a good start https://wamu.org/news/16/11/14/facing_racist_vandalism_diverse_church_in_silver_spring_meets_hate_with_love
Of course we were shocked and wounded by this event – in
this community of “blue” Maryland that prides itself on our racial and cultural
diversity. But we didn’t dwell much on
“who would do this?” I was oddly
unsurprised, I realize now: upset, but with more of a feeling of, “So, here it
is: we knew it was out there and it has
come to us”– this atmosphere of hatred and fear that has become so pervasive in
our political discourse through this election season. But my reaction as a relatively privileged white
Anglo may be different from those directly threatened, who have been feeling
frightened and vulnerable even before this.
I am also aching for them – especially the children and the parents who
seek to keep them safe.
What was inspiring was the way that the Church, as a Whole
Church and the body of Christ, came together to support us.
The Bishop of Washington, the Right Reverend Mariann Budde, came to
celebrate communion at our Spanish service
and invited people from around the diocese to come at short notice, and they
came. Our rector, the Rev. Dr. Robert
Harvey, spoke for the welcome that binds
our community. Our preacher, the
Rev. Francisco Valle, spoke inspiringly of who we are as Christians: We are people who answer love with hate and
this is the kind of time when we bear witness to this. He spoke from the heart,
he quoted St. Francis, and he spoke for all of us. (see more here Afterwards chalk was given out and the people
gathered, especially the children, wrote messages of love: Love Wins: Love is stronger than hate; on the
sidewalks around the church.
Meanwhile Bishop Mariann and those who spoke for the church
protested against these acts of violence against the vulnerable, and called on
the President-Elect and his supporters to separate themselves from the hate-speech
that this election has stirred up in his name.
It was not a condemnation of “those people” but a call to put an end to
behavior that is hurtful toward the vulnerable.
Not a call for “political correctness” but a call for respect and
empathy, and humane attention to the damage our words can do, and to the need for
healing words. This too is at the heart
of our faith.
In the week since, the outpouring of support has been
overwhelming –candles, flowers and cards left at our doors, a new sign replacing the old and stating
“Silver Spring Loves and Welcomes Immigrants.”
I was at the church on Tuesday most of the day working with our office
of Samaritan Ministry and serving people from our community and our
congregation who need help taking their next steps toward applying for jobs,
improving computer skills, and other steps out of poverty and
homelessness. The gestures of support, and media calls from all over the world, wer flowing through the church
office all morning, all day, on Tuesday. The imam from up the road came with some of his congregation to pray at the church; 2 guys arrived from Pennsylvania with offers to clean the wall for free; others just stopped by to say "I'm with you" - and it continues.
At Our Saviour we have always been proud of our mission to
be “a home for all God’s people” and we’ve been clear that we are here
to embody Jesus’ welcome to all, even when we sometimes have to work at it. Being
part of this community for over 25 years has been a privilege and joy. It has kept me aware- if sometimes appropriately
uncomfortable –of my own role and experience as a white person in this society,
and grateful for the welcome that I receive because of a shared faith and the
joy of common worship with so many people I might not otherwise have crossed
paths with in the course of daily life. And I’m grateful that my children were able to
grow up with the experience of this kind of friendly diversity as normal and
good and real – because I believe that that is what we embody at Our Saviour,
and indeed what the Church at its best bears witness to.
In one way it is exciting that as a result of this ugly
event our common vision and commitment to one another is on display for all to
see. In another way it is exhausting,
the way any grieving process is exhausting,
sorting out the sense of violation the loss of the sense of safety we had, and becoming a public symbol on social media
across the world, because of the way that this hate crime reflects the sad and
broken state of our country. At Our Saviour we haven’t been spending much energy on “Who
did this?” Or “Why did they do this?”
Jesus was the one who said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." My comfort and my hope is that all this public exposure will invite
people of good will, across the political spectrum, to think on these things, and recognize the need for far more
compassion and empathy, and firmness in the struggle against hate as we journey together through the very challenging
time that lies ahead.www.episcopalcos.org.
